A/N: Hi guys! Happy Friday! (at least in USA currently) A few things happened this week: I got a concussion, so I'm sorry I tried to write this the best I could (I was kinda loopy...) plus, my old laptop BROKE so my dad gave me this one...it works a lot faster fortunately but the keyboard is a lot smaller...I'm still trying to get used to this.

I saved this update for today because it's one of my followers, Sticks and Stream's BIRTHDAY! So happy birthday! Sorry this is a sad present (this fanfiction is pretty dark so far lol) but uh...happy birthday

THANK YOU TO REVIEWS FROM: Jessieklove, Forever Me, DisneyandWildKrattfangirl, kplusthree, Sophia the daughter of Nyx, Dirtkid123, Robertdoctor, regularshow565, thetimehasturned3, boscyboo, RazzlePazzleDooDot, Can't Pick a Fandom For This User, LeeAnn95, Guest, DisneyPrincess, Stephi, Guest, Joey Bermuda Ketail, Guest, wubtastical, Guest, Sticks and Stream (HAPPY BIRTHDAY), Ladynightwing58, Clamadea, BlackWind137, How should I feel, amber, guest, and Purpalz Miner!

Whew...enjoy next chapter!

Tadashi stared out the window of his new bedroom, two floors above their Aunt's café, feeling tears prick his eyes again for that day. He bit the inside of his lip hard, not letting himself cry, not again.

He didn't want to be there. He wanted his mom and dad to run though the door and hug him, saying it was all a misunderstanding and they were okay…

But they weren't. As Aunt Cass had said, they were in heaven right now. They were with God. Tadashi had heard her explaining softly to a very confused Hiro, who didn't understand why their parents weren't there. Why they didn't come home yesterday with them from the hospital. Why both Tadashi and Aunt Cass were constantly hiding tears.

"'Dashi..?" A small sound came from behind Tadashi, and he sniffed quickly, clearing his blurry eyes and turning to his little brother.

Hiro was standing in the doorway, hugging a teddy bear tightly with all of his life. His large, brown eyes were full of confusion and worry, and his lip was trembling ever so slightly.

"What is it, outoto…?" Tadashi asked the five year old softly. The small boy paused, before running up to Tadashi and hugging his legs, hard.

"Hiro…what's wrong?" He asked, and Hiro sniffed.

"…you're sad 'Dashi…I don't want you to be…" He mumbled, and Tadashi bent over, hugging Hiro hard.

"…I'm ok, Hiro…"

"…'Dashi…?"

"Yeah…?"

"…I don't get it…where are mommy and daddy…?" Tadashi stiffened, feeling tears sting his eyes once again. How was he supposed to explain to his baby brother that they were gone?

"…they're up above, Hiro….they're gone…" Tadashi said slowly. Hiro looked up at Tadashi with a frown.

"When can I see them again?" Tadashi sat onto the floor, pulling Hiro close to him, wrapping his arms carefully around his tiny, fragile body.

"Not for a long time, otouto…" Tadashi murmured quietly, and Hiro looked down at the ground

"…y-you're not going, right Dashi..?" Hiro asked, his voice quivering and tears filling his eyes. Tadashi's heart melted as he kissed Hiro's forehead and hugged him tightly.

"No...no of course now…I'm staying right here, Hiro…" Tadashi promised in a whisper, Hiro sniffing and wiping the tears out of his eyes.

"O-okay..." Hiro buried his head in Tadashi's chest and closed his eyes tightly as Tadashi gently pushed a hand though his hair.

"I'll always be here for you, alright Hiro? I promise I won't let anything happen to you, and I'll always be there to protect you. I promise, Hiro." Tadashi said softly, and Hiro nodded.

"I-I love you, Dashi…"

"I love you too, Hiro…"

Tadashi woke up slowly, his dream still lingering in his mind. He didn't know why that memory came to him through that dream, but he remembered the day vividly. He remembered the pain he felt knowing that the two brothers were orphans, he remembered the pain he felt as he held his head strong for his brother's sake; he remembered that year of being parentless with much agony.

He glanced over at Hiro, who was curled up in a ball under the sheets. He used to be so full of joy and light, so full of life; but that was all sucked out of him the day school started. And Tadashi had no idea why.

Maybe it was the teachers. Maybe it was the stress. Maybe it was homework; but no matter what it was, Tadashi just wanted to old Hiro back.

He tried; oh how he tried. He would try to talk to him every single day as the two brothers drove home from school. He would try to help him with homework. He would try to suggest they invent something together. He would try to tell jokes and try to make him smile. But no matter what he did, Hiro never smiled. He never talked much. He wasn't the same Hiro.

He was just twelve years old, yet he seemed to be handling the load of an eighteen year old. He was only a kid; he should want help, and it was totally acceptable if he needed it. But he wanted to do it on his own, and he didn't want Tadashi any longer.

Tadashi glanced towards the clock, realizing it was still two in the morning. He rubbed his eyes and lied back, forcing his busy and confused mind to go back to the drowsiness of sleep…

Hiro lied in bed as well. He heard Tadashi get up. Of course he did, he was awake too. He hadn't slept for over twenty-four hours, lying awake in bed as thoughts were swirling in his mind, not letting him sleep.

Not like Hiro wanted to sleep though. Only nightmares would torment his finally peaceful mind, and he'd wake up panting and crying. He wouldn't see anything but darkness, just feel so much pain…he wanted it to stop…but it just wouldn't stop…

Hiro had been so excited for winter vacation, but he had only been out for three days and wanted to go back to school. Sure, there were bullies, but there were distractions. Distractions to keep his mind busy and off of his own sorrow, off of the demons that attacked his mind with thoughts of death, anger, and pain…

He flipped over again, and heard Tadashi's heavy breathing, and Hiro knew Tadashi drifted off to sleep once more. Hiro's mind as well started to drift off into darkness, and Hiro knew he had to sleep again.

God, don't attack me with nightmares. Not again. Hiro prayed silently, but either God was too busy listening or didn't care, because the demons had come back that night once again…

"Hiro! Get down here!" Tadashi called up the stairs, waiting once again for Hiro to come down and eat.

Tadashi called down his little brother three times a day for every meal, every day. Though lately he had claimed he "was not hungry". Tadashi grumbled a "fine" every time this answer was given, but he wasn't going to hear it again. He hadn't touched any food yesterday, and it wasn't going to happen again.

Tadashi felt a sharp pain through his heart as he remembered Hiro jogging down the stairs, smile on his face as he greeted everyone a "good morning!" and grabbing the closest bowl of rice or whatever it was they were eating that morning. Those days were long gone now, but Tadashi desperately wanted them back.

"Hiro! C'mon!" He yelled up the stairs once again. He waited a few seconds before finally getting a reply.

"I'm not hungry, Tadashi." Hiro's soft voice floated down the steps, and filled Tadashi with frustration. How could he not be hungry?

"Hiro! You need to eat! Now!" Tadashi yelled back.

"I'm not hungry, Tadashi!" Hiro repeated, but his voice was less soft and more aggressive, angrier.

"Hiro, you can't-"

"Leave me alone, Tadashi!" Hiro yelled from his room.

"Fine!" Tadashi yelled angrily, giving up and leaving the café without eating either. He felt his aunt's worried eyes on him as he slammed the front door behind him, but he couldn't talk to her right now. He had to be alone to cool off.

Meanwhile, Hiro sat on his bed, the silence of the café ringing in his ears, anger still filled in his small body as fell onto his bed with frustration. He turned quickly and sharply, grabbing his pillow and screamed into it, his knuckles turning white as they dug into the soft cushion.

Hot tears stung his eyes as his voice turned hoarse and he broke down, crying. His anger slowly died away in his body and guilt flooded in. He was a burden. A mistake. He was making everything worse.

He glanced towards the calendar. It was the 23rd of December.

"Hold on a little longer…" He told himself quietly.

What for? The words burned through his brain like acid, and he leaned back.

He really didn't have an answer.

A/N: I hope the next chapter will be up soon. I'll try my best. Please review!